textproduct: Quad Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- A Winter Weather Advisory continues for the far southern CWA for rounds of snow and accumulation through Sunday afternoon. A sharp cutoff of snow amounts is expected on the northern edge of this system between Highway 34 and I-80.

- Below normal temperatures continue next week, with cold weather headlines possible Sunday night/Monday morning and Wednesday night. A clipper or two are also possible next week for a few light snow chances.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 230 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

The first round of snow is underway acrs the southern third of the DVN CWA with some minor accumulations already reported, and the snow in those areas will continue off and on into the evening. Further to the north up toward the I-80 corridor, the dry low to mid levels(mainly low) arctic air having it's effect of eroding snow encroachment from the southwest. Example Iowa City had a bout of 2 mile visibility with light snow at noon, and now just light flurries and no snow making it to the Quad Cities. Several lift and saturation procedures that seem to have a grasp of what is currently happening suggest this layout to continue into early evening with a temporary lull in the south action as well, then with the main wave lifting out there is finally some support for a push of the snow fields further north and northeast acrs the southeastern third or a bit more of the DVN CWA making it to the I80 corridor from the Quad Cities eastward after 10 PM or so.

Not much there for profiles for dendritic snow and just finer powdery flakes that have trouble accumulating much, look to continue. A rather long duration event of rounds of light to a few bursts of moderate snowfall still look to only add up to the already advertised 1 to 3 with a few swaths or spots of 4 inches by midday Sunday when most of the snow is pulling away from the local fcst area. North winds increasing to 10+ KTs Sunday morning and midday may produce some drifting of the powder in areas that can get at least a few inches. All in all, besides starting the headline early to account for today's earlier activity and adding Lee Co. IA for it's southern leg in the higher snow zone, the ongoing Winter Weather Advisory looks on track.

As for temps, after the deep freeze we are in an interesting and rather long duration temp trend of steady to slowly rising values the rest of today all the way into Sunday before the next re- enforcing cold surge sweeps down acrs the area by later Sunday afternoon. There probably will some temporary dips after dark in the north under the thinner cloud cover and initial light sfc wind regime, but overall non-diuranal in many spots. Then the next cold slam and winds combine for wind chills ranging from the upper teens to near 30 below zero late Sunday night into Monday morning. Will hold off for now, but another cold headline probably warranted for that period.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/

Issued at 230 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

After a cold start to Monday, some decent recovery aided by a switch over to southerly return flow south of a clipper system. Monday highs may make it into the teens by late afternoon, with single digits above zero Monday night. After Monday night it looks to remain consistently below normal, as an active northwest flow, or under the western portion of the deep upper low acrs the Great Lakes maintains it's influence on the local weather regime. There will also be occasional passing threats for light snow produced by upper wave or clippers embedded in this flow/rotating around the upper low. Wednesday may be one such say with light clipper snow possible. After that the chances for snow at this point are low in any one period as timing and position of any wave is inconsistent. That all said, cold air is in place and easy for any system to produce at least light snow even with marginal moisture available.

Lows in the 5 to -5 range are forecast many of the nights ahead, which could keep the area near advisory levels by early morning for wind chill driven headlines.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 515 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026

Periods of light snow are expected at BRL and MLI this evening and overnight. MLI will remain on the northern edge of the steadier snow, but current thinking is the snow will continue to push to the ENE, giving MLI several hours of light snow. Expect bouts of MVFR ceilings and MVFR/IFR visibilities at BRL/MLI into Sunday AM with the snow winding down by then. Winds will remain relatively light, albeit steady between 5-15 kts.

DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IA...Winter Weather Advisory until 3 PM CST Sunday for IAZ099. IL...Winter Weather Advisory until 3 PM CST Sunday for ILZ034-035. MO...Winter Weather Advisory until 3 PM CST Sunday for MOZ009-010.